Storage container and tray

ABSTRACT

A tray and storage containers combination includes a tray having a bottom, side walls and an open top configured to receive a lid. A plurality of containers are configured to be arranged within the tray, each of which having a top wall and a bottom wall, two side walls and a back wall, each of the plurality of the containers having an openable lid. The containers are positioned in the tray to rest on their respective bottom walls so that the lids of the plurality of the containers face a side wall of the tray.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/436,044, filed on Jan. 25, 2011, the entirety ofwhich is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This application relates to a storage container. More particularly, thisapplication relates to a storage container for organization of smallcraft items.

2. Description of Related Art

People who work with beads either as a hobby or in their profession mayaccumulate hundreds of different designs and types of beads which varyby color and size as well as material. It is difficult to easily storethe multitude of types of beads such that they are all visuallyaccessible and easily retrievable to the person during use, as well asproviding containers that are easily transportable.

U.S. Patent Publication No, 2005/0178693 to Gupta discloses a beadworkkit, a lap desk for bead working, a bead stringing tray and a weavingtray, the trays being interchangeable in the kit and desk and also beingcapable of being used alone. The kit has a case having a cover and abase. The cover includes a plurality of compartments within which beadscontainers are received. A further compartment is provided for holdingscissors or other tools. The base also includes a storage compartmentwhich underlies a beadwork tray. The beading tray is for engaging beadsin a straight line such as for making bracelets, necklaces, with aplurality of grooves therein which may include indicia associatedtherewith for determining the final length of the project.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,493,102 to Belokin discloses a tackle and utility boxformed of a pair of substantially identically shaped molded membershaving converging top and bottom walls and integral side and end wallswith matching inner open sides, hinged to each other along one edge sothat in a closed position the molded members adjoin at their open sidesto form an enclosure and in open position the sides of the members foldout into a flat base with the open inner skies directed upwardly at anangle to each other. At least one compartmented tray is included, hingedat its bottom across the open inner side of one of the molded members.In the closed position, the sides of the hinged compartmented traysserve as covers for the fixed compartments in both molded members and inopen position the trays can be rotated to provide access to thecompartments.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,670 to Harlan discloses a multi-compartment pillboxwith compartment size as chosen by the user, snap shut lids to close allcompartments, and a boatlike structure to aid in filling eachcompartment. The unit may be manufactured using clear or coloredplastic. The rounded bottoms in the compartments are a necessity foreasy removal of pills.

U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0269231 to White discloses a containeruseful for both packaging a device and for transferring the device fromthe container to its place of use with a minimum amount of contaminationof the user by the device. The container has a first container portionand a second container portion. One of the container portions isprovided with a grip that is graspable by a user's hand and a holder forholding the device using the same portion of the container to permitthat portion of the container to be gripped and used to transfer thedevice from the container to another location without having to directlycontact the device. Corner indentations are designed to provide aconvenient location to grasp the first container portion between twofinger of one hand when opening or closing the container.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY

Although the above described containers are suitable for variouspurposes, they do not offer specific features that are directed to thestorage, transport and easy removal of small craft products such asbeads.

One object of the present invention is to provide a storage containerwhich allows a person to easily organize, transport and visuallydistinguish many different types and colors of beads at one time. Thepresent invention allows benders to organize components by color, givingthem the flexibility to find the right sized container for every bead intheir collection.

Another object of the prevent invention is to provide a convenient wayto store bead projects safely until completion which is alsotransportable.

The present invention addresses the aforementioned concerns by providingstorage containers of various sizes and an outer tray for the storage ofa plurality of beads and for the separation of many kinds of beads.Multiple storage containers of various sizes are positioned in the outertray. The tray and storage containers are made from a clear plasticmaterial to provide visual access to a multitude of beads storedtherein.

The storage containers have large rounded corners to easily remove smallobjects.

The containers lay on their sides so the contents are visible throughthe transparent container walls and the clear tray lid. The containersare oriented so that the lid of each container is not facing upwards,rather the containers rest in the tray with their lids positioned facingthe user. This orientation allows the user to see through thetransparent walls of the container and view the contents as opposed tolooking through the lids of each container.

In another aspect of the invention, in order to easily extract a singlecontainer from the tray, each container has thumb scoops and grip wingfeatures on its front and back sides. The grip wings are part of thecontainer and the lifting force is not in the opening direction of thelid, thus keeping the lid securely dosed while lifting the containerfrom the tray. If the lids were positioned upwards, these grip wings onthe lid might cause the lid to open inadvertently and release all thecontents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention can be best understood through the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a planar view of a tray with storage containers, according toone embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a dose up view of the tray and storage containers of FIG. 1,according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an individual storage container of FIG.1 in an open state, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an individual storage container of FIG.1, illustrating grip wings, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 is a planar view of several storage containers, illustrating gripwings and thumb scoops, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a tray 12 is formed from a polymer and configuredto store a plurality of storage containers 14, each of which isconfigured to independently store a particular small product. In thisarrangement, a single tray 12 may be used to organize, store, transportand use a wide variety of small products, including craft products suchas beads and the like.

For the purpose of illustrating the salient features of the presentinvention, tray 12 and storage containers 14 are described inconjunction with the storage of craft products, such as small coloredbeads. However, it is understood that the presently described tray 12and storage containers 14 can be used with a wide variety of small craftitems.

Tray 12 is ideally made from a sturdy polymer material and may either beopaque, translucent or clear. However, storage containers 14 are ideallymade from a transparent polymer so that a user may easily identify thematerial inside.

According to the present arrangement, tray 12 may be sized to includeany configuration of the various sized storage containers 14. Tray 12may be in any size and depth that is suitable for bead storage e.g. adepth of several inches and a dimension of 6″×6″ up to 24″×24.″

For example, in one preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, thirteenextra small sized containers 14 fill one row of tray 12. This size maybe useful for seed beads and tiny findings such as crimp beads and thelike. Eight small sized containers 14 fill another row of tray 12. Thissize may be useful for primary bead storage. Five medium size containers14 fill another row in tray 12. Three large sized containers 14 fillanother row of tray 12. These larger sizes may be useful for large beadsand head pins.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a lid 15 of tray 12and the walls of containers 14 are made of a clear transparent materialsuch as clear polymer. Lids 16 of containers 14, however may be eithertransparent or opaque. As such, the content of containers 14 can beviewed through the transparent lid 15 of tray 12 and the transparentwalls of containers 14.

Referring to FIG. 2, each of containers 14 preferably have a top wall22, bottom wall 24, two side walls 26 a, 26 b, a lid 16 and a back wall28. Containers 14 are positioned in tray 12 to rest on their bottomwalls 24. Opaque lids 16 face forwards toward a front side of tray 12 asopposed to upwards towards lid 15. As such, the contents of containers14 can be viewed through their transparent clear plastic top wall 22even when containers 14 are in tray 12. Additionally, the contents ofcontainers 14 may be viewed through each of side walls 26 a and 26 b,bottom wall 24 and back wall 28 when they are out of tray 12. Opaquelids 16 help to set sharp definitions between containers 14 when theyare dose together in tray 12 to help users easily identify one containerfull of beads from another.

As shown in FIG. 2, as tray 12 is filled with rows of containers 14,containers 14 are positioned so that lid 16 of one container 14 abutsback wall 28 of the adjacent container 14 in the same row. Thisorientation ensures that containers 14 are secured shut once tray 12 isfilled with a full number of containers per row. Therefore, if tray 12is accidentally dropped, due to the forward configuration of lids 16,lids 16 of containers 14 remain closed and the contents are not spilledor intermingled.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, FIG. 5 shows a close up view of severalcontainers 14 in tray 12. Each of containers 14 has a grip wing 18 andthumb scoop 20 as part of container 14 formed directly into a back side(facing back side 28) of top wall 22. In this context, scoop 20 allowsroom for the finger to fit in between containers 14 and grip wing 18provides a ledge for the finger to press against. Also shown in FIGS.3-5, each of lids 16 has a corresponding grip wing 18A and thumb scoop20A as part of lid 16, which fits into an appropriate correspondingopening of container 14. In this arrangement container 14 and lid 16together have two grip wings 18, 18A and thumb scoops 20, 20A in orderto facilitate a user extracting a single container 14 from tray 12 usingtheir fingers.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, once container 14 is extracted from tray 12and the user desires to access its contents, lid 16 can either be opened(FIG. 3) or be entirely removed (FIG. 4) from container 14 in order tohave access the contents of container 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, showing the partially opened lid 16, lid 16 isattached to container 14 via a hinge 32. On the hinged end of lid 16, aprojection 34 on each corner of lid 16 fits within a correspondingrecess on a side wall (26 b) of container 14. On the opening end of thelid, a tongue 36 fits within a corresponding recess 38 on a side wall(26 a) of container 14 in order to secure lid 16 to container 14 in adosed position. Due to the hinged connection, lid 16 can be flipped openwithout completely removing lid 16 in order to have quick access to thecontents of containers 14. In this arrangement, the opening end of lid16 by tongue 36 faces a side wall (26 a) and, as such, when removing acontainer 14 from tray 12, the lifting force is not in the openingdirection of lid 16 so that lid 16 remains closed while container 14 isremoved and the contents remain within container 14 without spilling.This arrangement is further protected from accidental opening whenremoving a container 14 from tray 12 because one finger of a user ispressing on grip wing 18 and thumb scoop 20 built directly intocontainer 14 whereas the opposing finger is pressing on grip wing 18Aand thumb scoop 20A of lid 16, thus holding lid 16 tightly during theremoval process.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, containers 14 are additionally configured tohave rounded corners 30, such as along side wall 26 a so as to allow foreasier removal of small objects within containers 14 and likewise toprevent sticking of containers 14 to one another when they are removedfrom and inserted into tray 12.

As noted above, although such a tray 12 and containers 14 are directedin a preferred embodiment for use in storage of beads, it is understoodthat such tray 12 and containers 14 may likewise be used to holdtemporarily strung beads, pendants, oversized beads, bottles of resin,jars of modge podge, rods of glass, glue guns, soldering iron, blocks ofpolymer clay and all oversized materials.

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes orequivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore,to be understood that this application is intended to cover all suchmodifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of theinvention.

1. A tray and storage containers combination comprising: a tray having abottom, side walls and an open top configured to receive a lid; aplurality of containers configured to be arranged within said tray, eachof said containers having a top wall and a bottom wall, two side wallsand a back wall, each of said plurality of said containers having anopenable lid; wherein said containers are positioned in said tray torest on their respective bottom walls so that said lids of saidplurality of said containers face a side wall of said tray.
 2. The trayand storage containers combination according to claim 1 wherein saidtray is filled with said containers in rows.
 3. The tray and storagecontainers combination according to claim 2 wherein said containers arepositioned within said tray so that said lids of one of said pluralityof container abuts a said back wall of an adjacent container among saidplurality of said containers in the same said row.
 4. The tray andstorage containers combination according to claim wherein saidcontainers further comprise rounded corners.
 5. The tray and storagecontainers combination according to claim 1 wherein said containerfurther comprises a thumb scoop on the back side of the top wall of saidcontainer in order to extract said containers from said tray.
 6. Thetray and storage containers combination according to claim 5 whereinsaid lid of said container further comprises a thumb scoop in order toextract said container from said tray.
 7. The tray and storagecontainers combination according to claim 6 wherein when a user placeson finger in said scoop on said container and another finger in saidscoop on said lid and pinches the scoops together, said container isextracted from said tray.
 8. The tray and storage containers combinationaccording to claim 6 wherein said containers further comprise wing gripswithin said thumb scoops in order to extract said containers from saidtray.
 9. The tray and storage containers combination according to claim1 wherein said lids of said plurality of said containers open towardsone of said side walls of said containers.
 10. The tray and storagecontainers combination according to claim 1 further comprising a lid forsaid tray, said tray lid made of transparent plastic.
 11. The tray andstorage containers combination according to claim 1 wherein said wallsof said containers are made of transparent plastic.
 12. The tray andstorage containers combination according to claim 1 wherein said lid ofsaid container is opaque.
 13. The tray and storage containerscombination according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of containersfurther comprises containers of varying sizes.
 14. The tray and storagecontainers combination according to claim 1 wherein said lids of saidplurality of containers are connected to said containers via a hinge.15. The tray and storage containers combination according to claim 1wherein said lids of said plurality of containers are entirely removablefrom said containers.